The Washington critic., 1887-02-08
THE END OF A JOURNEY.

the station, and Louise alighted with
her friend, Sybil Travers. The latter
young lady. clad In gray Mother Hub
bard, and wearing pretty poke bon.
net piled high with ostrich feathers,
was the very picture of elegance.
Louise was little, insignificant thing.
and she appeared less attractive than
ever as she made her way to the wait
ing.room alongside of her distln-
guishcd- looking friend.
1T is too absurd, Sybil," she said,
as they sat together in aremote corner,
enjoying n last confidential chat before
Miss Travers left for the West "The
idea of your posting of to San Fran.
cisco all alone, simply because a harm.
less youth promises to come this way,
and to act as your escort !"
at is only three weeks earlier than l
meant to go anyhow" said Sybil,
stoutly. "You know why prefer to
go alone, Louise. You see that Uncle
Jerry has made up his mind that pro-
pinquity Is the only thing necessary to
make Mr.. Valleau and myself fall
madly in love with each other. lie
fancies that a trip across the Continent
is especially well calculated TO bring
about that much desired result. But |
don't see 1t in that way. know very
well that / should hate Mr.. Valleau
from the outset. should feel bound
to do 1t just for contrariety. So, you
see, l prefer to 60 home for few
weeks earlier, and to go alone; for If |
did wait for Mr.. Valleau, as Uncle
Jerry wished me to, and If failed to
fall In love with him, you know very
well that 1t would he impossible for me
to explain the phenomenon satisfac-
torily. AS 1t is, l can smooth matters
over easily.
"How far. sighted you are, Sybll"
Louise said, laughing. "DIr. Valleau
will be terribly disappointed, though, l
fear. But there's your train, dear
Good'by. Write to me as soon as you
arrive"
Then followed considerable girlish
demonstration, which provoked a smile
on the lips of nonchalant young
traveller who reclined at his ease before
one Of the windows of parlor car, and
who had been watching Louise and
Sybil with interest.
"a very handsome girl, by Jove !"
was his mental comment as Sybil took
her seat Just behind him, and the mirror
at the end Of the car enabled him to
command full view of her face. II
wonder how far she Is going?"
There was no means OF ascertaining
just then, but when the conductor
came through the car, and the young
man presented his ticket to which were
attached q long string of coupons, run.
ming all the way from New York to
San Francisco, he noted with satisfac.
tion that Sybil had one like it.
"a through passenger, he observed.
Il wonder who she is? Travelling
alone, too but evidently lady. She
must be Californian, but she looks
like New Yorker" etc.
The young mans fancy ran riot,
and all the while he kept his eyes
fixed on the mirror, in which was re.
flected SYPHILIS lovely face, with its
rich, warm coloring and its beautiful
frame of ripping hair. Very often
their eyes met, as was only natural;
but Sybil had wonderful composure
for so young girl, and the look OF
serenity she continued to wear rather
chagrined the handsome stranger, who
had entertained hope, Innocent
enough In Its nature, that the long
ride over the plains might be en-
livened with piquant filtration.
"Pallas Athene," he said, regret.
fully. Beautiful, but susceptible of
no passion that is not animated by
reason"
Such q conclusion might have been
rather hasty, but 1t appears that this
urnracciyn ynppu man In IN ,latnr and
travelling cap made some pretcnse to.
ward being O reader of character.
Meanwhile Sybil, constitutionally op.
womanly girls are, formed a pretty SC.
such mean advantage of the power Of
her seat Her policy was one of COM
comfortably, she soon forgot all about
the handsome pair of brown eyes 60
deliberately fixed on the telltale
mirror.
The other passengers were pretty
well acquainted by the time they
reached Chicago, but Sybil, naturally
reserved, and becoming more so
through the protective instinct which
prompted her to make few friends
when travelling alone, had not joined
the little coterle which soon estab-
fishes itself In every westward. bound
train. Her neighbor had been bafled
In several attempts to make her nc.
quaintance, but difficulty only fired his
determination.
"She's something new in the fcmi-
nine line, by Joye she is " he re-
marked, when one of his deepest laid
schemes had been overthrown by
SYPHILIS courteous but unapproachable
dignity.
1t appears this handsome stranger
had been Gladys man for many q
day" He was Of peculiar temper.
ament. When he made up his mind
to anything he usually accomplished it,
and In accomplishing 1t was quite will.
ing to relinquish all subordinate inter.
ests. He, too, held himself aloof from
his fellow-passengers, and so II was
that when they reached Council Bluffs
not soul was on board the train who
could have told who the gentleman aud
lady were that travelled alone aud We're
so very exclusive.
Any one who has made transconti.
mental trip will appreciate the desire to
take turn on terra firma that seized
Sybil's peculiar vis,a,vls when he
reached Council Bluffs. He was II
1.-the, athletic fellow, and during the
hour and a'half that the train halted
he made a pedestrian tour into the sur
rounding country. Unfortunately, he
prolonged his walk beyond desirable
limit, and when he reached the station
again the train had already begun to
move slowly, Many time he had
boarded the train when 1t was going